June 3, 2010

Papallama is celebrating a big birthday this year! One of those that ends in a big, fat ZERO! We will celebrate by heading to the lake and letting him take it out on his jetski. Last year I bought him an Old Guys Rule t-shirt that reads "Local Legend. If you don't know me, you're not from around here." That is so true. He is the Tech Director for the local school district and everybody knows him. He loves what he does. He gets to play with all the newest gadgets and rescue people when they have technology issues, not that anyone EVER has an issue with technology!

PDub shares his middle name with the Llama. (Dub=W) He's a lucky boy to have such a smart, yet sweet papa.

I found a great activity book on a clearance rack that PDub has come to enjoy on his visits here. My Grandpa's Briefcase,by P.H. Hanson, opens up to reveal all the goodies you might find in Grandpa's briefcase. A notepad, a crossword puzzle, some coins, 11 socks, and much, much more. But it begins with the question that his grandpa always says, "Where are my glasses?" Papallama has said that a few (thousand) times. I love the Grandpa-isms included in this book.

"My daddy always asks, 'What time is it?'

'What's the big rush? 'says my grandpa. 'Take your time.'

Until his last visit when he was 21 months old, PDub seemed overwhelmed by all the pictures on the pages. On his last visit though, he would play along as we hunted for Papa's glasses on the pages. It's fun to see that transition in his understanding of books. He is finding meaning in what he sees and hears.